Shoppers comparing salt on online listings
If you are choosing cupboard staples with salt in mind, compare the nutrition panel for the exact tin you intend to order, particularly when substitutions are possible.
Who is this for?
Households ordering tomatoes for regular cooking
For sauces, soups and stews, a single tin and a multipack may both fit the recipe. Check how many 400g tins you will use and store before choosing a pack.
Cooks considering salt across the whole meal
The tomato base is only one part of a recipe. Stock, cheese, cured meat, sauces and added seasoning can also contribute salt.
What should you check?
Start with like-for-like salt figures, then check that the pack and final basket still match the product you compared.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Salt and ingredients | Compare salt per 100g on the exact product. Sainsbury's lists 0.07g for its Italian Chopped Tomatoes; Marks & Spencer and Napolina list 0.10g for their reviewed products; ASDA lists 0.30g for Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes. Check separately whether salt appears in the ingredients. | I want to choose using the stated salt amount, not the brand or a description on the front of the tin. |
| Recipe quantity | Use per-100g figures for comparison, then consider how much tomato goes into the recipe. Check other ingredients and any salt added during cooking; UK Government guidance recommends no more than 6g salt a day for adults. | For a sauce or stew, I need to consider the whole recipe rather than treating the tomato tin as the finished meal. |
| Format and pack | Check whether the tomatoes are chopped or whole plum, and confirm the number and size of tins. Napolina lists its reviewed chopped tomatoes in single-can and 4 x 400g formats. | A multipack suits my regular cooking only if I will use and have room for all the tins; the tomato format also needs to suit the dish. |
| Final order | Confirm the exact item, delivery slot and substitution setting before checkout. Compare the nutrition panel again if a different tin or pack is offered. | I do not want a substitution to change the salt figure or pack size I chose. |
Common ordering mistakes
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Assuming plain or premium tomatoes have less salt
The reviewed plain chopped-tomato listings show different values: 0.07g per 100g at Sainsbury's, 0.10g for the reviewed Marks & Spencer and Napolina products, and 0.30g for the Mutti product listed by ASDA.
Compare salt per 100g for the exact tin and use its ingredients list as a separate check.
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Comparing a serving with 100g
Napolina also gives a half-can figure of 0.20g salt for its reviewed chopped tomatoes. That is a different quantity from its 0.10g-per-100g figure.
Shortlist tins using the same per-100g measure, then consider the amount your recipe uses.
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Overlooking a basket substitution
A different product or pack may not have the salt figure you originally compared.
Review the final basket and substitution setting. If a substitute is offered, check its own nutrition panel before accepting it.
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Using one storage rule for every opened tin
Instructions differ: the reviewed Sainsbury's product says to refrigerate and use within 2 days of opening, Marks & Spencer says within 3 days, and ASDA's Mutti listing says within 5 days.
Follow the storage instructions on the tin you receive, including any direction to remove the contents from the can.
Brand and retailer references
These references concern the named listings and product ranges, not every tin sold under each brand.
Sainsbury's
Its reviewed Italian Chopped Tomatoes come as a 4 x 400g multipack.
- Sainsbury's lists 0.07g salt per 100g; the displayed ingredients do not list added salt.
- Check the current product details and the label on the tins delivered, as product information may change.
Napolina
Napolina lists chopped tomatoes in single-can and 4 x 400g formats.
- Its reviewed chopped tomatoes list 0.10g salt per 100g.
- That listed figure is above the 0.07g per 100g on the reviewed Sainsbury's multipack.
M&S
The reviewed 400g Italian chopped-tomato product contains tomatoes, tomato juice and citric acid.
- Marks & Spencer lists 0.10g salt per 100g for this product.
- Confirm whether the exact tin is offered through the online service you intend to use.
Mutti
The reviewed Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes are a different texture from standard chopped-tomato listings.
- The finely chopped format may suit a recipe where that texture is wanted.
- ASDA's listing for the reviewed 400g tin names salt as an ingredient and lists 0.30g salt per 100g; do not apply that figure to every Mutti product.
Tesco
Tesco's chopped-tomato category lists own-label and branded products in different pack sizes.
- The category includes Tesco, Napolina, Mutti and Cirio listings.
- Compare the nutrition panel of the specific Tesco own-label tin before drawing a salt comparison.
Asda
ASDA lists tinned tomatoes for online delivery or click and collect.
- Its reviewed Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes listing includes ingredients and salt per 100g.
- That Mutti figure does not describe every tomato product available from ASDA.
Tinned tomatoes on Joybuy
These options include chopped and whole plum tomatoes in multipacks. For a salt-conscious order, compare the nutrition panel of each exact pack and confirm delivery details in your basket.
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Laila Canned Chopped Tomatoes 12 x 400g
For regular sauce or stew cooking, this 12 x 400g chopped-tomato pack is a larger cupboard supply. Check its current salt figure per 100g and whether the quantity suits your storage space.
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Laila Canned Plum Tomatoes 12 x 400g
Choose the whole plum format if it suits the way you prepare your sauce or stew. This is a 12 x 400g pack; check the salt panel for this exact product and the space needed for the tins.
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Napolina Chopped Tomatoes 4 x 400g
For recipes calling for chopped tomatoes, this four-tin pack lists 0.10g salt per 100g on the reviewed Napolina and Joybuy product information. Confirm the current panel and pack in your basket.
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Napolina Peeled Plum Tomatoes 4 x 400g
This four-tin pack is labelled as peeled plum tomatoes, so check that whole tomatoes suit your recipe. Compare the salt panel for this exact pack rather than applying the figure from Napolina's chopped tomatoes.
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Napolina Chopped Tomatoes 6 x 400g
If you use chopped tomatoes regularly, this six-tin pack offers a different quantity from the four-tin Napolina pack. Check the nutrition panel for this exact variant and confirm the pack before checkout.
Questions about choosing and using tins
How can I compare the salt in tinned tomatoes online?
Use the salt figure per 100g for the exact product and pack size. In the reviewed listings, Sainsbury's Italian Chopped Tomatoes show 0.07g per 100g, Marks & Spencer and Napolina show 0.10g for their named products, and ASDA's Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes listing shows 0.30g.
Does a lower-salt choice contain no salt?
Not necessarily. A tin with a lower listed salt figure can still contain salt; check both the numeric value per 100g and the ingredients instead of relying on a general product description.
Should I count salt from other recipe ingredients?
Yes, if you are considering the salt in the finished meal. Stock, cheese, cured meat, sauces and added seasoning can contribute alongside the tomatoes; UK Government guidance recommends no more than 6g salt a day for adults.
How long can I keep tomatoes after opening the tin?
Follow the instructions on the tin you receive. The reviewed Sainsbury's product says to refrigerate and use within 2 days, the Marks & Spencer product says to remove from the can, cover, refrigerate and use within 3 days, and ASDA's Mutti listing says to refrigerate and use within 5 days.